Qwest Email Restrictions

Qwest lays out in their acceptable usage policy that their networks will not be used to transmit questionable or inappropriate content. The definition of such content remains, ultimately, at the discretion of Qwest communications. However, they do list defamatory, libelous, threatening, overly violent, abusive or hateful content as the kinds of content that are prohibited. They do not give such a list for "inappropriate" content but do list child pornography as one clear example.

Qwest also considers it a violation of their AUP to use email to violate the intellectual property rights of others. Such copyright infringement might include the email of copyrighted video or even books scanned to a digital format and distributed to others.

Messages containing viruses, "trojan horses" or Internet worms are considered damaging by the AUP and are thus prohibited by Qwest. Other message or security breaches that cause problem within the Qwest network itself, such as botnet attacks, will also put the email user in violation of the AUP. Botnet attacks are virus infections that allow a remote user to simultaneously utilize all infected PCs for a malicious purpose.

Qwest's AUP prohibits any message with forged email or TCP/IP header information. Malformed or forged email headers are often used by those sending spam. Spammers change these headers in order to disguise their actual source from recipients and other networks.

The AUP also prohibits any communication that contains "fraudulent or misleading claims." Users are not to use their Qwest emails to transmit any offers or advertisements that "contain false, deceptive, or misleading statements, claims, or representations." This condition particularly ties into limitations on sending spam and other unsolicited emails. Unsolicited emails (i.e., "spam") are expressly forbidden, on the condition that such a message would provoke a complaint from the recipient.

Qwest will attempt to work with customers who are in violation of the AUP, helping correct only that aspect of a user's email conduct which is in violation of the AUP. Qwest can suspend or even terminate the email and internet service of customers who violate the AUP at Qwest or Centurylink's discretion at any time. Qwest may also be obliged to cooperate with law enforcement officials in an investigation of a user's online activities through Qwest.